Incarnation [Paperback]

Emma Cornwall (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 18, 2012

In the steampunk world of Victorian London, a beautiful vampire seeks out the author of Dracula–to set the record straight . . .

If one is to believe Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale, Lucy Weston is Dracula’s most wanton creation, a sexual creature of the night who preys on innocent boys. But the real-life Lucy is nothing like her fictional counterpart—and she demands to know why the Victorian author deliberately lied. With Stoker’s reluctant help, she’s determined to track down the very fiend who transformed her—from the sensual underworld where humans vie to become vampires, to a hidden cell beneath a temple to madness, and finally into the glittering Crystal Palace where death reigns supreme.

Haunted by fragmentary memories of her lost life and love, Lucy must battle her thirst for blood as she struggles to stop a catastrophic war that will doom vampires and humans alike. Ultimately, she must make a choice that illuminates for her—and for us—what it means to be human.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Clever and surprising, Cornwall's writing sparkles with intrigue." --Shana Abe, New York Times bestselling author of the Drakon series

About the Author

Emma Cornwall is a pseudonym of an established author who has written New York Times bestselling historical and contemporary fiction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (September 18, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439190356
• ISBN-13: 978-1439190357
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Didn't turn out to be my thing September 19, 2012

By Ashleigh VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

See more of my reviews on The YA Kitten! My copy was an ARC given to me by the publisher via Edelweiss for review.

Though I primarily read young adult novels, I'm no stranger to adult novels and enjoy them just as much. It's nice to have an occasional break from the teenage dramatics inherent to many YA novels, you know? As big a Dracula/vampire fan as I am (but I was not a fan of the cover the edition of Dracula I had as a child possessed; I wish I had a picture of it to show off, but I don't), I expected Incarnation and its highly original idea to draw me in and never let go, but there was something off about everything.

Cornwall's idea is fantastic and I love everything about it. The idea of Dracula being a piece of propaganda twisting and concealing the truth of vampires and the fate of Lucy Westenra (her real name being Lucy Weston) was what grabbed my attention in the first place and the way the author expanded on it kept me reading. The expansions made throughout the novel to include the Protectors, who safeguard humans from vampires, Slayers born every thousand years to cull the vampire population, and the precarious balance humans and vampires have in Victorian England aren't necessarily new, but the way in which Cornwall employs and describes them makes them feel like something of their own. Moderately fine pacing kept the story moving and unraveled the plots each side was planning in order to defeat the other.

What feels so off about the novel is that I didn't have any emotional investment and there doesn't seem to be much passion in the novel. I respond to a passionately written novel by diving headfirst into it and caring about what happens to each and every character like they're my family, but there was no such connection to Incarnation. Lucy is sympathetic as she struggles with her nature and the differences that set her apart from other vampires, but she didn't truly earn sympathy from me; I just knew that was how I was supposed to feel. The steampunk element seems like more of an afterthought than anything--which I didn't mind, as someone who doesn't care much for it, but readers coming in expecting more steampunk will be disappointed.

The way the novel leaves off, there is easily room for a sequel, though I don't know if there will be one. My Googling skills haven't turned up anything yet, and if there were a sequel, I'm not sure whether I'd read it or not. Fellow Dracula and vampire fans looking for a new twist on a familiar story will enjoy Incarnation and perhaps they will respond to it better than I did.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Insight To Dracula At It's Finest September 20, 2012

By Chelsey Lynn

Format:Paperback

I was impressed with Cornwall's depictions of her make-believe vampire world. Vampires are overly analyzed in our literary world today, but Cornwall's interpretation was almost believable in a sense. The scenery, especially The Crystal Palace, was very versatile and I could grasp the steampunk side of this world as the descriptions floated off the stage. She did something different with vampires that hasn't been done yet and I really appreciated her aim as a writer. She made a bold move writing about vampires but I salute her because she executed it down to the final paragraph.

Lucy Weston wins character of the month. I love her charm, boldness, and most of all her audacity. She takes the cake. I wanted to be her best friend. Her adventure could spread across a series and I am almost wondering if we may see more of this whimsical world! I would have liked to have seen more action from her character. I felt that her internal conflict was not always executed externally in the best way for readers to understand. ( I hope that makes sense; my inner English major is starting to surface) I would have liked to see more of the seductress that we all know the Lucy Weston to be in Dracula. Her character could have pulled that off so well!

I have already mentioned that the steampunk aspect of this was written well. I also believe that the action was paced especially well. I am a reader that is easily lost in the flow of action and if you, as an author, do not keep me entertained you will quickly lose me. Here I believe that some of the best scenes were action. Cornwall has a knack for writing them and they were all very strong. I would definitely trade the action for romance, however. I did not like that there was just not a lot of it. I believe that romance could have maybe helped develop Lucy's character a little more since she is a newly turned vampire.

I loved the book and I am eagerly awaiting news for a sequel because I believe that there definitely has to be one!

***An e-copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers through Edelweiss in exchange for an unbiased review***

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing, paranormal read that had me whisked away into our heroine's adventure. September 20, 2012

By silverlight

Format:Paperback

Engrossing, paranormal read that had me whisked away into our heroine's adventure, within the historical streets of London, and the creatures of the night.

My first thoughts when I received this book? Gorgeous cover with sassy cover model, great Victorian setting, with steampunk elements. What we find between the pages is more of a paranormal, historical with a smart heroine set in the Victorian era of the streets of London. Rich with details of this time period, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The Prologue, will have you right from the start, as we find our heroine, Lucy, trapped underground in a coffin, with a stake through her chest, digging, and clawing her way out of her trap, as she is re-awakened. Confused about what has happened to her she makes her way out with an unknown hunger, and determination to find out what has become of her and her family, with only bits of pieces of her memory haunting her. She makes her way to her home, but it's not the home she remembers from her past, although memories still remain, it is deserted and a lonely place that unveils secrets about what has now become of her.
Once again, our heroine sets off to find the link to what and why she is now a deadly, immortal. The streets of London open her mind to a different world as she learns about her "new" life, and what will become of her and all of society and what piece of the puzzle she plays within this mystery.

With a hauntingly calling within her dreams, we learn of her maker and what has become of him, and his unfortunate event has Lucy needing to rescue him. With the help of the mysterious, Marco di Orsini. A talented human known as a Protector who defends humans and humanity against vampires and other paranormal beings that stalk the night. Marco is a great hero as well, and without spoiling the whole setting let's just say he is a great match for Lucy.

Miss Cornwall not only incorporates a wonderful tale, with a intriguing plot, she manages to fill your mind with wonderment of walking the streets of London reliving society during these times, she also places your mind into our heroine's and you really have a sense of learning everything through the eyes of Lucy bit by bit. Sprinkle in a list of paranormal elements which include wolves, unicorns, trolls, and of course vampires, an impending war, and mystery with a light romance we have a winner with Incarnation.